The vast majority of people – 75% of all Americans, to be exact – are chronically dehydrated. This deficiency is surprising and it's one of choice in the majority of cases. You can choose to drink an adequate amount of water, or you can choose to live in a suboptimal state.
So many people work tirelessly chasing their optimal state. Spending money on daily supplements, starting the day with a cold shower, electing to eat nutrition products that are organic and all-natural.. and the list goes on. But, a major unlock is sitting within reach and the only barrier to access is routine.
Drinking more water is the major unlock you need in your life.
Hydration isn't a buzzy trend or post-sweat afterthought, it's a crucial part of everyday health & wellness that impacts how you exercise, work, feel, and sleep.
Being hydrated is cool
Improve your heart health. Your heart pumps 24 hours a day supplying blood to every part of your body. Healthy, well-hydrated plasma (liquid part of blood) is made of 90% water, making it thin and easy to circulate throughout the body. If you're dehydrated, the water levels in your blood decrease, resulting in thicker blood that is more difficult to circulate throughout your body. The resulting thicker blood is taxing on your heart and can cause heart palpitations, high blood pressure, or blood clots.
The human brain is 80% water. Water helps to activate electrical functions in your brain which fire off hormones and neurotransmitters responsible for producing emotions, thoughts, and actions. Dopamine and serotonin are neurotransmitters that are known as the “feel-good” brain chemicals. Serotonin regulates your mood and influences your sleep while dopamine gives you feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. Both these brain chemicals require proper hydration to flow properly!
The human brain is 80% water and requires proper hydration to function.
Water can taste good. Adding electrolytes to your water provides a myriad of benefits (which we won't get into here), but one simple benefit is that your water will taste more delightful. As the theory goes; if it tastes good, you'll want more! A favorite everyday electrolyte tablet option is Nuun Hydration – you can choose from a number of flavors and use cases (sport, immunity, energy, etc.). The tube of 10 tablets can go anywhere with you and the tablet quickly dissolves leaving you with a refreshingly effervescent beverage!
Being dehydrated sucks
You can feel extra fatigued. If you're drinking less than the daily recommended amount, you'll likely experience additional fatigue. The human body is made up of roughly 60% water, so your body needs water to properly function. Water helps to carry essential nutrients to your cells and promotes physical energy.
Dehydration related headache. A dehydration headache is just that – a headache resulting from low water intake over a period of time. Since the human brain is 80% water, having a healthy hydration routine is essential for optimal cognitive performance. Try starting your day with a large cup of water since you just spent the prior 6-8 hours sleeping and forgoing any hydration.
Symptoms to watch for: dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, lack of sweat production, decreased and dark urine.
Daily hydration target
Eight glasses of water per day is the gold standard! This might seem like a lot, based on what you currently consume, but this is the baseline. A recent study found that drinking 1.8 liters (60 ounces or 7.5 eight-ounce cups) of water per day is the threshold for maintaining optimal body function. Similarly, the data suggests that consuming less than 1.8 liters puts the body into water-defense mode and "may influence the risk of dysfunctional metabolism and chronic disease.”
If you're currently below the threshold, start tracking your daily water intake and try gradually adding one additional cup every 3-5 days. This approach will give your body some time to adjust to the new hydration regimen. You may also want to drink more than eight glasses of water depending on your activity level, sweat rate, and chronic health conditions.
Eight glasses of water per day is the gold standard.
Urine Test
Lemonade-yellow urine is the goal. When you’re hitting optimal hydration, the color of your urine will be lemonade-yellow. If paler, you’re very well hydrated. If darker, you should increase your fluid consumption.
